Bicycle MechanicsBroken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

I hate asking this because I feel like somewhere on this site its been answered (but i searched and couldnt come up with a straight answer)...so here goes.
Is it possible to use a sram rear derailleur on an otherwise all shimano bike?

You will have to have a SRam shifter to operate the Sram derailleur. The Shimano systems use a 2:1 cable pull ratio between the shifter and deraileur whereas Sram uses 1:1. That means the Sram deraileur will not be able to move as far as it would need to in order to shift. Chain and cassetes on the other hand, mix away. I use a Sram rear deraileur and shifter and chain on my otherwise shimano bike.

yes as long as you know if the derailer is for the sprocket count 5 ,6.or 7 it just has to be able to swing enough to hit every gear. and remember there are to adjustment screws to allow how far it goes and when it stops.

Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.

Posts: 27,669

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)

Tagged: 0 Thread(s)

Quoted: 526 Post(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilsall6

yes as long as you know if the derailer is for the sprocket count 5 ,6.or 7 it just has to be able to swing enough to hit every gear. and remember there are to adjustment screws to allow how far it goes and when it stops.

Nope. Derailleurs can't count. Shifters have to pretty much match up with the number of cassette cogs because the spacing tends to vary. Sydney's right about the derailleurs. Some SRAM rear derailleurs work with Shimano shifters and some don't.

yes as long as you know if the derailer is for the sprocket count 5 ,6.or 7 it just has to be able to swing enough to hit every gear. and remember there are to adjustment screws to allow how far it goes and when it stops.

Wrong...Actually it's about throw ratio,and how the RD interfaces with the shifter pull.Because of incompatible throw ratio you can't use a 8 speed DA RD with any other shimano 8 speed shifters other than pre 9 speed DA. That's also why you can't use a campy 9 speed RD in an otherwise 9 speed shimano drivetrain or vice versa.And that is why sram ESP RD are compatible only with SRAM ESP shifters....Hopefully if I say it enough times youse guys will all get your heads around the concept of RD compatibility in index systems.Nothing new here.Been that way since 1985 when shimano brought indexing to the masses.....SOMEBODY OUGHTA MAKE A STICKY!

I already know there are types that are Shimano compatible, but they are few and far between in virtually every shop I have been to. That includes a very large area of the eastern US. The new units come with a chart on the box that says which are and arent.

By the way Syd, there are other ways to present a counterpoint than to say Wrong as the first word.

I already know there are types that are Shimano compatible, but they are few and far between in virtually every shop I have been to. That includes a very large area of the eastern US. The new units come with a chart on the box that says which are and arent.

By the way Syd, there are other ways to present a counterpoint than to say Wrong as the first word.

Wrong... wrong is just wrong. Regardless of what you see in the shops,that isn't what's out in the real world,or what the poster might have or be contemplating. The guy asked about sram/shimano compatiblibility and the answer is IT DEPENDS, not NO.

I already know there are types that are Shimano compatible, but they are few and far between in virtually every shop I have been to. That includes a very large area of the eastern US. The new units come with a chart on the box that says which are and arent.

granted i work in what is the opposite of a pro shop, but my experience has been even that almost all gripshift-equipped bikes from dept store through entry to lower-middle level quality bikes come with shimano compatible MRX shifters...

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtbikerinpa

By the way Syd, there are other ways to present a counterpoint than to say Wrong as the first word.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sydney

Wrong... wrong is just wrong.

one the other hand, three lefts make a right, but three wrongs don't make a right